CN116030845A - Magnetic tape drive and method for operating magnetic tape drive - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a tape drive and an operation method of the tape drive, wherein friction generated between a tape and a support member can be suppressed compared with a case that the support member arranged on the opposite side of the tape from a magnetic head is directly pressed against the tape. A tape drive, comprising: a 1 st magnetic head having a 1 st magnetic element acting on a magnetic layer formed on a 1 st surface of the magnetic tape; a 1 st support member which is disposed at a position facing the 1 st head with the tape therebetween and which faces a 2 nd surface which is a surface opposite to the 1 st surface of the tape; and an air film forming device for forming an air film between the magnetic tape and the 1 st support member.

Description

Magnetic tape drive and method for operating magnetic tape drive

Technical Field

The present technology relates to a magnetic tape drive and a method of operating the magnetic tape drive.

Background

Patent document 1 describes a tape device in which air is blown from an air blowing member to the back surface of a tape opposite to the front surface, and the tape is lifted by the air to face a magnetic head.

In non-patent document 1, based on the reported design theory of the contact slider, the suction contact characteristics of the magnetic head slider due to the surface force between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk TFC (Thermal Flying height Control: thermal levitation control technique) were evaluated again by JKR (Johnson-Kendall-Robert) theory, the contact vibration characteristics of the contact magnetic head slider (contact head slider) due to the micro waviness of the magnetic disk were clarified, and design conditions capable of stable contact were proposed.

Patent document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 8054582 Specification

Non-patent document 1: view, proc, japanese society of mechanical Endoctrine of design theory and contact vibration Property of contact magnetic head slider, vol.79, no.797 (2013), pp.90-106

Disclosure of Invention

An embodiment of the present invention provides a magnetic tape drive and a method of operating the magnetic tape drive, in which friction generated between a magnetic tape and a support member can be suppressed as compared with a case where the support member provided on the opposite side of the magnetic head from the magnetic tape is directly pressed against the magnetic tape.

A 1 st aspect of the present invention relates to a magnetic tape drive comprising: a 1 st magnetic head having a 1 st magnetic element acting on a magnetic layer formed on a 1 st surface of the magnetic tape; a 1 st support member which is disposed at a position facing the 1 st head with the tape therebetween and which faces a 2 nd surface which is a surface opposite to the 1 st surface of the tape; and an air film forming device for forming an air film between the magnetic tape and the 1 st support member.

A 2 nd aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to the 1 st aspect, wherein the air film forming device is a 1 st ultrasonic vibration source that forms an air film between the magnetic tape and the 1 st support member by ultrasonically vibrating the 1 st support member in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape and orthogonal to a width direction of the magnetic tape.

A 3 rd aspect of the present technology is the magnetic tape drive according to the 2 nd aspect, wherein the air film is a squeeze film.

A 4 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to the 2 nd aspect, wherein the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source vibrates the 1 st support member at a vibration frequency that generates a squeeze film between the magnetic tape and the 1 st support member, the vibration frequency being a vibration frequency that is larger than a natural vibration frequency of the magnetic tape.

A 5 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to any one of the 2 nd to 4 th aspects, wherein the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source vibrates the 1 st support member at a vibration frequency in which an amplitude of the magnetic tape is within a predetermined range.

A 6 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to any one of the 2 nd to 5 th aspects, further comprising a processor that controls an operation of the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source based on information related to the magnetic tape, that is, magnetic tape information.

A 7 th aspect of the present technology is the magnetic tape drive according to the 6 th aspect, wherein the magnetic tape information includes information on a transport state of the magnetic tape and/or information on a property of the magnetic tape.

An 8 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to the 7 th aspect, wherein the information on the transport state of the magnetic tape includes information on a transport speed of the magnetic tape, information on a tension generated on the magnetic tape, and/or information on an amplitude of the magnetic tape.

A 9 th aspect of the present technology is the magnetic tape drive according to the 7 th aspect, wherein the information on the property of the magnetic tape includes information on the thickness of the magnetic tape and/or information on the material of the magnetic tape.

A 10 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to any one of the 7 th to 9 th aspects, further comprising a sensor for detecting a conveyance state of the magnetic tape, wherein the processor controls an operation of the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source based on a detection result of the sensor.

A 11 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to any one of the 1 st to 10 th aspects, further comprising a leaf spring type suspension for supporting the 1 st magnetic head, wherein the 1 st magnetic head is provided at a front end portion of the suspension, and the suspension displaces the 1 st magnetic head in a direction approaching the magnetic tape.

A 12 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to any one of the 1 st to 11 th aspects, further comprising a position adjustment actuator for adjusting a position of the 1 st magnetic head in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape and orthogonal to a width direction of the magnetic tape.

A 13 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to any one of the 1 st to 12 th aspects, wherein the magnetic tape also has a magnetic layer formed on the 2 nd surface, and further comprising: a 2 nd magnetic head having a 2 nd magnetic element acting on the magnetic layer formed on the 2 nd surface; a 2 nd support member disposed at a position facing the 2 nd head with the tape therebetween and facing the 1 st surface; and an air film forming device for forming an air film between the magnetic tape and the 2 nd support member, wherein the magnetic tape drive is switched between a 1 st state in which the 1 st magnetic element acts on the 1 st magnetic layer and a 2 nd state in which the 2 nd magnetic element acts on the 2 nd magnetic layer.

A 14 th aspect of the present invention is the magnetic tape drive according to any one of the 1 st to 12 th aspects, wherein the magnetic tape also has a magnetic layer formed on the 2 nd surface, and further comprising: a 2 nd magnetic head having a 2 nd magnetic element acting on the magnetic layer formed on the 2 nd surface; a 2 nd support member disposed at a position facing the 2 nd head with the tape therebetween and facing the 1 st surface; and an air film forming device for forming an air film between the magnetic tape and the 2 nd support member, wherein the 2 nd magnetic head and the 2 nd support member are disposed at positions different from the 1 st magnetic head and the 1 st support member, respectively, in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape.

A 15 th aspect of the present invention is a method for operating a tape drive, comprising: forming an air film between a tape and a support member disposed at a position facing the magnetic head with the tape therebetween; advancing the magnetic tape in a state where an air film is formed; and causing the head to act on the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a tape drive.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a tape drive.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the support member as seen from the side of the feeding-out magnetic head and the rewinding magnetic head.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sending head.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between data elements and data tracks.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the data element.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the control unit.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the control unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing steps of operation of a tape drive.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a magnetic head for delivery.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a piezoelectric bimorph element.

Fig. 12 is a side view showing an example of the operation of the piezoelectric bimorph element.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a tape drive.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a tape drive.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a tape drive.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a tape drive.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a tape drive.

Detailed Description

[ embodiment 1 ]

As an example, as shown in fig. 1, a tape cartridge 11 is mounted in a tape drive 10. The magnetic tape cartridge 11 accommodates therein a cartridge reel 13 on which a magnetic tape 12 is wound. The tape drive 10 records data on a magnetic tape 12 fed from a cassette tape reel 13. And, the tape drive 10 reads data recorded on the magnetic tape 12. The magnetic tape drive 10 is an example of a "magnetic tape drive" according to the present technology.

The magnetic tape 12 is, for example, a structure in which a magnetic layer 16 and a back coat layer 17 are formed on a base film 15 (see fig. 2). Data is recorded on the magnetic layer 16. The magnetic layer 16 contains ferromagnetic powder. As the ferromagnetic powder, a ferromagnetic powder generally used in a magnetic layer of various magnetic recording media can be used. Preferable specific examples of the ferromagnetic powder include hexagonal ferrite powder. For example, hexagonal strontium ferrite powder, hexagonal barium ferrite powder, or the like may be used instead of hexagonal ferrite powder. The back coating 17 contains, for example, a non-magnetic powder such as carbon black. The base film 15 is also called a support, and is formed of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyamide, or the like. In addition, a nonmagnetic layer may be formed between the base film 15 and the magnetic layer 16. The magnetic tape 12 is an example of a "magnetic tape" according to the present technology.

The surface of the magnetic tape 12 on which the magnetic layer 16 is formed is a surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12. On the other hand, the surface on which the back coating 17 is formed is the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12. The front surface 18 is an example of the "1 st surface" according to the technique of the present invention, and the back surface 19 is an example of the "2 nd surface" according to the technique of the present invention. The magnetic layer 16 is an example of a "magnetic layer" according to the technology of the present invention.

The tape drive 10 is provided with a computer 23, and the computer 23 includes a processor 20, a memory (memory) 21, and a storage (storage) 22. Processor 20, memory 21 and storage 22 are coupled to bus 24. The memory 21 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory: random access memory) or the like, and temporarily stores various information. The memory 22 is a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing various parameters and various programs. Examples of the memory 22 include a hard disk drive and a solid state drive. The processor 20 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit: central processing unit). The memory 22 stores a control program 22A. The processor 20 loads the control program 22A into the memory 21, and operates as the control unit 31 by executing the processing according to the control program 22A. The control unit 31 controls the operations of the respective portions of the tape drive 10 in general. The processor 20 is an example of a "processor" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

The tape drive 10 includes a feed-out motor 25, a winding motor 26, a winding reel 27, a feed-out magnetic head 28, a rewind magnetic head 29, and a support member 30. The feed-out magnetic head 28 and the rewind magnetic head 29 are examples of "the 1 st magnetic head" according to the technique of the present invention. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the sending-out magnetic head 28 and the rewinding magnetic head 29 are sometimes collectively referred to as "magnetic heads" unless they are required to be separately provided.

The feed motor 25 rotates the cassette reel 13 in the tape cassette 11 under the control of the control unit 31. The take-up reel 27 takes up the magnetic tape 12 fed from the cassette tape reel 13. The take-up reel 27 takes up the wound magnetic tape 12 back onto the cassette tape reel 13. The winding motor 26 rotates the winding reel 27 under the control of the control unit 31.

The magnetic tape 12 travels in the feed-out direction FWD or the rewinding direction BWD while being guided by the plurality of guide rollers 32 by driving the feed-out motor 25 and the winding motor 26. The feed-out direction FWD is a direction from the cassette reel 13 toward the take-up reel 27. The rewinding direction BWD is the direction from the take-up reel 27 toward the cassette-type tape reel 13. The rotational speed and/or torque of the feed-out motor 25 and the winding motor 26 are/is adjusted to be suitable values for the running speed and the tension during running, but this is only an example. For example, by adjusting the rotational speeds of the feed-out motor 25 and the winding motor 26 (for example, the rotational speed difference between the feed-out motor 25 and the winding motor 26), the traveling speed and the tension at the time of traveling can also be adjusted to appropriate values.

The feed-out head 28 and the rewind head 29 are disposed on the surface 18 side of the magnetic tape 12 to access the magnetic layer 16. The sending head 28 and the rewinding head 29 record data on the magnetic layer 16. The sending head 28 and the rewinding head 29 read the data recorded on the magnetic layer 16.

The feed-out head 28 operates when the magnetic tape 12 travels in the feed-out direction FWD. In other words, when the magnetic tape 12 is fed out from the cassette tape reel 13, the feeding magnetic head 28 operates. In contrast, when the magnetic tape 12 travels in the rewinding direction BWD, the rewinding head 29 operates. In other words, when the magnetic tape 12 is wound back onto the cassette tape reel 13, the rewinding magnetic head 29 operates.

The feed-out head 28 and the rewind head 29 are different in operation timing but have the same structure. The send-out magnetic head 28 and the rewind magnetic head 29 are small-sized magnetic heads such as those used in hard disk drives.

As an example, as shown in fig. 2, the sending-out magnetic head 28 and the rewinding magnetic head 29 are provided at the tips of the leaf spring type suspension 35 and the suspension 36. The base ends of the suspensions 35 and 36 are movably mounted to the frame of the tape drive 10, for example, by arms. The suspension 35 and the suspension 36 displace the feeding head 28 and the rewinding head 29 in the direction approaching the magnetic tape 12, respectively. That is, the head is pressed against the magnetic tape 12 by the leaf spring type suspension 35 and the suspension 36. On the other hand, the head generates levitation force due to factors such as the head shape during the accompanying flow of the magnetic tape 12. A gap is created between the magnetic tape 12 and the magnetic head due to the balance between the spring load applied to the magnetic head by the suspension 35 and the suspension 36 and the levitation force of the magnetic head.

Here, the spring load generated by the suspension 35 and the suspension 36 at the magnetic head is, for example, about 0.01 to 0.1N, but this is only an example. As will be described in detail later, the spring load may be less than 0.01N or more than 0.1N as long as the levitation state of the magnetic tape 12 with respect to the support member 30 can be maintained. The spring load is changed, for example, by changing the shape of the head and/or the shape of the suspension 35 and the suspension 36.

The suspension 35 and the suspension 36 may retract the feeding head 28 and the rewinding head 29 to standby positions separated from the magnetic tape 12 when the feeding head 28 and the rewinding head 29 are not in operation.

A support member 30 is disposed at a position facing the feed-out magnetic head 28 and the rewind magnetic head 29 with the tape 12 interposed therebetween. Specifically, the feeding support member 30A is disposed at a position facing the feeding head 28 with the tape 12 interposed therebetween. A rewinding support member 30B is disposed at a position facing the rewinding head 29 with the tape 12 interposed therebetween. The feed-out support member 30A and the rewind support member 30B are examples of "1 st support member" according to the technique of the present invention. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the support member 30A for delivery and the support member 30B for rewinding are also simply referred to as "support member 30".

The support member 30 is opposite the back surface 19 of the tape 12. Specifically, the support member 30 is a flat plate-like member. The portion of the support member 30 opposite the back surface of the magnetic tape 12 is a flat surface. The length of the support member 30 in the transport direction of the magnetic tape 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is a length capable of supporting the magnetic tape 12 so that the magnetic head can read and write the magnetic tape 12. Further, as a material of the support member 30, an aluminum polishing material may be used, but this is only an example. The material of the support member 30 may be appropriately set from the viewpoints of rigidity, durability, abrasion resistance, and the like, and may be, for example, a metal other than aluminum, a resin, or the like.

When the magnetic head is brought into contact with the magnetic tape 12, a part of the magnetic tape 12 is peeled off by friction and broken into pieces, which may adhere to the magnetic head or be deposited on the magnetic tape 12. In order to suppress the generation of such fragments, as described above, a structure in which a magnetic head is used for a hard disk drive is adopted.

However, unlike the case of a hard disk drive, the magnetic tape 12 is a medium softer than a magnetic disk included in the hard disk drive, and thus jitter (i.e., an increase in amplitude) may occur when the magnetic tape 12 is transported. As a result, the gap (i.e., the interval) between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 may vary greatly. As a method of suppressing the jitter of the magnetic tape 12, there is a method of supporting a magnetic head from the back surface of the magnetic tape 12 using a guide roller. However, in this method, the magnetic tape 12 is supported on a curved surface, and therefore, even if the position of the magnetic head in the conveyance direction of the magnetic tape 12 is slightly changed, a large change in the spacing is caused. Also, when the planar structure is directly pressed against the magnetic tape 12 instead of being supported by the guide roller, friction may occur between the magnetic tape 12 and the structure, fragments may occur, and the travel of the magnetic tape 12 may become unstable due to frictional resistance.

Accordingly, the tape drive 10 according to the technology of the present invention includes the air film forming device 33. The air film forming device 33 forms an air film AM between the support member 30 and the magnetic tape 12. The air film forming apparatus 33 is an example of the "air film forming apparatus" according to the technology of the present invention.

The air film forming apparatus 33 includes an ultrasonic vibration source 33A and an ultrasonic vibration source 33B. The ultrasonic vibration source 33A is connected to the delivery support member 30A. The ultrasonic vibration source 33B is connected to the rewinding support member 30B. The ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B ultrasonically vibrate the support member 30 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12 and orthogonal to the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12 (i.e., the normal direction ND of the magnetic tape 12). Thereby, an air film AM is formed between the support member 30 and the magnetic tape 12.

The suspension of an object by ultrasonic vibration is described according to various theories. That is, when the opposing 2 planes are close, pressure (i.e., a squeezing effect) is generated due to a change in viscosity of fluid (e.g., air) existing between the planes. It is theorized that the result is an air film (i.e., a squeeze film) having a pressure generated by the squeezing effect. Also, it is theorized that a sound field is formed between the supporting object and the levitating object (for example, between the supporting member 30 and the magnetic tape 12) by ultrasonic vibration, and the levitation of the object is caused by a density difference of acoustic wave energy of upper and lower surfaces of the object (for example, the surface 18 and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12). In any case, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate to form an air film AM between the support member 30 and the magnetic tape 12. The air film AM is, for example, an extruded film. The ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B are examples of "1 st ultrasonic vibration source" according to the technique of the present invention.

As a result, when ultrasonic vibration is applied to the support member 30 from the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B, levitation force is generated on the magnetic tape 12 facing the support member 30. As an example of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B, an ultrasonic vibration source using a piezoelectric element can be given. The piezoelectric element being, for example, lead zirconate titanate (PZT; pb (Zr, ti) O) ₃ ). For example, a voltage of about 10 to 100V is applied to the piezoelectric element, whereby a flying height (i.e., a distance between the tape 12 and the supporting member 30) of about several tens to several hundreds nanometers can be obtained. Further, as the levitation force generated on the magnetic tape 12, 1N or more can be obtained. Thus, for example, even when the magnetic head is pressed against the magnetic tape 12 with a force of about 1N, the levitation state of the magnetic tape 12 can be ensured.

The ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B may be ultrasonic vibration sources using stacked piezoelectric elements. By using the laminated piezoelectric element, the stroke of the ultrasonic vibration source can be increased. Thus, by further obtaining the flying height and bringing the magnetic tape 12 in a state further away from the supporting member 30, it is possible to realize the magnetic tape 12 in a state in which the influence of the surface state (i.e., the roughness or the surface roughness) of the magnetic tape 12 is small.

The ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate the support member 30 by oscillating at a predetermined vibration frequency. For example, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate the support member 30 at a vibration frequency that generates a squeeze film as the air film AM. Further, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate the support member 30 at a vibration frequency that is greater than the natural vibration frequency of the magnetic tape 12. By vibrating the support member 30 at a frequency that is greater than or equal to the natural frequency of the magnetic tape 12, the magnetic tape 12 cannot follow the vibration of the support member 30. Thereby, the influence on the magnetic tape 12 caused by the vibration accompanying the support member 30 is suppressed.

The ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate the support member 30 at a vibration frequency in which the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 is within a predetermined range. The amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 is preferably within a predetermined range, for example, 1 nm or less, and the interval between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 is preferably within a predetermined range.

The ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B are fixed to the tape drive 10 by a fixing member 34A and a fixing member 34B, respectively. The fixing members 34A and 34B are provided on the opposite side of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and 33B from the side to which the support member 30 is connected. As an example of the fixing member 34A and the fixing member 34B, a metal plate member is given. The fixing members 34A and 34B are fixed to a housing (not shown) of the tape drive 10 by, for example, fastening members (not shown).

The 1 st moving mechanism 40 is connected to the suspension 35, and the 2 nd moving mechanism 41 is connected to the suspension 36. The 1 st moving mechanism 40 moves the feeding head 28 along the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12 together with the suspension 35. Similarly, the 2 nd moving mechanism 41 moves the rewinding head 29 together with the suspension 36 in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12. The 1 st moving mechanism 40 and the 2 nd moving mechanism 41 include actuators such as voice coil motors and piezoelectric elements, for example.

As an example, as shown in fig. 3, the sending-out magnetic head 28 and the rewinding magnetic head 29 are arranged at positions shifted in the sending-out direction FWD and the rewinding direction BWD (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12) so as not to interfere with each other. The width W_H of the feed-out head 28 and the rewind head 29 is smaller than the width W_T of the magnetic tape 12. Specifically, the width w_h of the feeding head 28 and the rewinding head 29 is about 1/2 of the width w_t of the magnetic tape 12. The width W_T of the magnetic tape 12 is, for example, 12.65mm, and the widths W_H of the feeding magnetic head 28 and the rewinding magnetic head 29 are, for example, 6.5mm to 7.0mm. Incidentally, the depth and height of the feeding head 28 and the rewinding head 29 are also smaller than the width w_t of the magnetic tape 12, for example, about several mm. And, the width W_G of the support member 30 is greater than the width W_T of the tape 12.

The magnetic layer 16 has 3 servo bands SB1, SB2, SB3, and 2 data bands DB1 and DB2 in which data is recorded. Servo bands SB1 to SB3, and data band DB1 and data band DB2 are formed along the feed-out direction FWD and the rewind direction BWD. The servo bands SB1 to SB3 are arranged at equal intervals along the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12. The data band DB1 is arranged between the servo band SB1 and the servo band SB2, and the data band DB2 is arranged between the servo band SB2 and the servo band SB 3. That is, the servo bands SB1 to SB3 and the data bands DB1 and DB2 are alternately arranged along the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12.

Servo patterns 50 are recorded in servo bands SB1 to SB 3. The servo patterns 50 are provided at equal intervals along the feed-out direction FWD and the rewind direction BWD, for example. The servo pattern 50 is constituted by a pair of linear magnetization regions 51A and 51B that are line-symmetrical. The pair of linear magnetization regions 51A and 51B are not parallel to each other and form a predetermined angle with respect to an imaginary straight line along the width direction of the magnetic tape 12. The predetermined angle is, for example, 10 degrees. In this case, the angle formed by the magnetized area 51A and the virtual straight line along the width direction of the magnetic tape 12 is 5 degrees, and the angle formed by the magnetized area 51B and the virtual straight line is-5 degrees. The magnetization region 51A is inclined toward the rewind direction BWD side, and the magnetization region 51B is inclined toward the feed-out direction FWD side. The servo pattern 50 is used for servo control, for example. The servo control is control for moving the feeding magnetic head 28 and the rewinding magnetic head 29 in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12 by the 1 st moving mechanism 40 and the 2 nd moving mechanism 41.

The sending head 28 records data on the data band DB1, and reads the data recorded on the data band DB1. The feeding head 28 reads the servo patterns 50 recorded on the servo bands SB1 and SB 2. In other words, the feeding head 28 is responsible for the 1 st area divided in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12. The 1 st area at this time is servo band SB1, servo band SB2, and data band DB1.

On the other hand, the rewinding magnetic head 29 records data on the data band DB2, and reads the data recorded on the data band DB2. The rewinding magnetic head 29 reads the servo patterns 50 recorded on the servo band SB2 and the servo band SB 3. In other words, the rewinding head 29 is responsible for the 2 nd area divided in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12. The 2 nd area at this time is servo band SB2, servo band SB3, and data band DB2.

Thus, the sending head 28 is responsible for recording data on the data band DB1 and reading data recorded on the data band DB1. The rewinding head 29 is responsible for recording data on the data band DB2 and reading data recorded on the data band DB2. That is, 2 magnetic heads are provided for 2 data bands DB1 and DB2.

As an example, as shown in fig. 4, the delivery head 28 has a magnetic element unit MEU composed of a plurality of magnetic elements on a surface facing the magnetic layer 16. A plurality of magnetic elements acts on the magnetic layer 16. The magnetic head 28 brings the magnetic element into contact with or close to the magnetic layer 16, thereby magnetically acting the magnetic element on the magnetic layer 16. Further, "close" here means that the gap between the magnetic layer 16 and the magnetic element, which is referred to as a gap, is maintained, for example, on the order of several nanometers. The magnetic element is an example of the "1 st magnetic element" according to the technology of the present invention.

The magnetic element unit MEU has 2 servo pattern read elements SR1 and SR2, and 8 data elements DRW1, DRW2, DRW3, DRW4, DRW5, DRW6, DRW7, and DRW8. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the servo pattern read elements SR1 and SR2 are collectively referred to as servo pattern read elements SR, and the data elements DRW1 to DRW8 are collectively referred to as data elements DRW.

The servo pattern read element SR1 is disposed at a position corresponding to the servo band SB1, and the servo pattern read element SR2 is disposed at a position corresponding to the servo band SB 2. The data elements DRW1 to DRW8 are provided between the servo pattern read element SR1 and the servo pattern read element SR 2. The data elements DRW1 to DRW8 are arranged at equal intervals along the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12. The data elements DRW1 to DRW8 simultaneously record and/or read data on 8 data tracks DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, and DT 8. In the following, the data tracks DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, and DT8 are referred to as "data tracks DT" unless a special distinction is required.

As an example, as shown in fig. 5, the data track DT has divided data track groups DTG. The data tracks DT1 to DT8 shown in fig. 4 correspond to the divided data track groups DTG1 to DTG8 shown in fig. 5. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the divided data track groups DTG1 to DTG8 will be referred to as "divided data track groups DTG".

The divided data track group DTG1 is a set of a plurality of divided data tracks obtained by dividing the data track DT in the width direction WD. In the example shown in fig. 5, divided data tracks dt1_1, dt1_2, dt1_3, dt1_4, … …, dt1_11, and dt1_12 obtained by dividing the data track DT by 12 in the width direction WD are shown as an example of the divided data track group DTG 1. The data element DRW1 is responsible for magnetically processing the divided data track group DTG 1. That is, the data element DRW1 is responsible for recording data to the divided data tracks dt1_1, dt1_2, dt1_3, dt1_4, … …, dt1_11, and dt1_12, and reading data from the divided data tracks dt1_1, dt1_2, dt1_3, dt1_4, … …, dt1_11, and dt1_12.

Like the data element DRW1, each of the data elements DRW2 to DRW8 is responsible for magnetically processing the divided data track group DTG of the data track DT corresponding to each data element DRW.

As the feeding head 28 moves in the width direction WD by the 1 st moving mechanism 40, the data element DRW is shifted to a position corresponding to the 1 designated divided data track out of the 12 divided data tracks. By servo control using the servo pattern 50, the data element DRW is fixed at a position corresponding to the designated 1 data track DT.

As an example, as shown in fig. 6, the data element DRW includes a data recording element DW and a data reading element DR. The data recording element DW records data on the data track DT. The data reading element DR reads data recorded on the data track DT.

The data recording element DW is disposed upstream of the feed-out direction FWD, and the data reading element DR is disposed downstream of the feed-out direction FWD. This is so configured as to immediately read the data recorded by the data recording element DW with the data reading element DR and perform error checking.

Although not shown in the drawings and detailed description, the rewinding magnetic head 29 also has 2 servo pattern read elements SR corresponding to the servo band SB2 and the servo band SB3, and 8 data elements DRW provided between the 2 servo pattern read elements SR. The data recording element DRW records data to and/or reads data from 96 data tracks DT of the data band DB 2. The data element DRW includes a data recording element DW disposed on the upstream side in the rewind direction BWD, and a data reading element DR disposed on the downstream side in the rewind direction BWD.

As an example, as shown in fig. 7, the control unit 31 functions as a travel control unit 60, a 1 st position detection unit 61, a 1 st servo control unit 62, a 1 st data acquisition unit 63, a 1 st recording control unit 64, a 1 st reading control unit 65, a 1 st data output unit 66, a 2 nd position detection unit 67, a 2 nd servo control unit 68, a 2 nd data acquisition unit 69, a 2 nd recording control unit 70, a 2 nd reading control unit 71, and a 2 nd data output unit 72.

The travel control unit 60 controls the driving of the feed-out motor 25 and the winding motor 26 to travel the magnetic tape 12 in the feed-out direction FWD or the winding-back direction BWD. The travel control unit 60 adjusts the rotational speeds and torques of the feed motor 25 and the take-up motor 26 to adjust the traveling speed and the tension of the magnetic tape 12 at the time of traveling to appropriate values.

The 1 st position detecting section 61 receives a servo signal based on the servo pattern 50 read by the servo pattern reading element SR of the sending head 28. The servo signal is an intermittent pulse corresponding to the magnetization region 51A and the magnetization region 51B. The 1 st position detecting unit 61 detects, from the pulse interval of the servo signal, which position of the servo pattern reading element SR in the width direction WD of the servo band SB, that is, which position of the feeding magnetic head 28 in the width direction WD with respect to the magnetic tape 12. The 1 st position detecting unit 61 outputs the position detection result of the sending-out magnetic head 28 in the width direction WD to the 1 st servo control unit 62.

The 1 st position detecting section 61 is inputted with 2 kinds of servo signals based on the servo pattern 50 read by the 2 servo pattern reading elements SR. The 1 st position detecting unit 61 calculates an average value of the pulse intervals of the 2 kinds of servo signals. Then, the position of the sending head 28 in the width direction WD is detected based on the calculated average value.

The 1 st servo control unit 62 compares the position detection result of the magnetic head 28 for delivery from the 1 st position detection unit 61 with the target position of the magnetic head 28 for delivery. When the detection result is the same as the target position, the 1 st servo control unit 62 does nothing. When the detection result deviates from the target position, the 1 st servo control unit 62 outputs a servo control signal for setting the position of the feeding magnetic head 28 to the target position to the 1 st moving mechanism 40. The 1 st moving mechanism 40 operates in response to the servo control signal to set the position of the delivery head 28 as the target position. Further, the target position is stored in the memory 22, for example, in the form of a data table (i.e., a target position table) in which a value corresponding to each of the data tracks DT1 to DT8 is registered.

The 1 st data acquisition unit 63 reads and acquires data recorded in the data band DB1 by the magnetic head 28 for transmission, for example, from a host computer (not shown) connected to the magnetic tape drive 10. The 1 st data acquisition section 63 outputs the data acquired from the host computer to the 1 st recording control section 64.

The 1 st recording control section 64 encodes the data input from the 1 st data acquisition section 63 into a digital signal for recording. Then, the 1 st recording control unit 64 causes a pulse current corresponding to the digital signal to flow through the data recording element DW of the sending head 28, thereby causing the data recording element DW to record data on the specified data track DT within the data band DB 1.

The 1 st read control unit 65 controls the operation of the data reading element DR of the feeding head 28 to read the data recorded on the specified data track DT in the data band DB 1. The data read by the data reading element DR is a pulse-like digital signal. The 1 st read control unit 65 outputs the pulse-like digital signal to the 1 st data output unit 66.

The 1 st data output unit 66 decodes the pulse-shaped digital signal from the 1 st read control unit 65 as data. For example, the 1 st data output unit 66 outputs data to the host computer.

The 2 nd position detecting unit 67, the 2 nd servo control unit 68, the 2 nd data acquiring unit 69, the 2 nd recording control unit 70, the 2 nd reading control unit 71, and the 2 nd data output unit 72 have the same functions as the 1 st position detecting unit 61, the 1 st servo control unit 62, the 1 st data acquiring unit 63, the 1 st recording control unit 64, the 1 st reading control unit 65, and the 1 st data output unit 66, only by replacing the above-described feeding-out magnetic head 28 with the rewinding magnetic head 29 and replacing the data band DB1 with the data band DB 2. So that detailed description is omitted.

As an example, as shown in fig. 8, the control unit 31 functions as a 1 st vibration source control unit 81 and a 2 nd vibration source control unit 82. The 1 st vibration source control unit 81 controls the operation of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A. The 2 nd vibration source controller 82 controls the operation of the ultrasonic vibration source 33B.

The 1 st vibration source control unit 81 and the 2 nd vibration source control unit 82 control the operations of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B, respectively, based on tape information, which is information related to the tape 12. The tape information includes information related to the conveyance state of the tape 12 and information related to the nature of the tape 12.

The information on the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12 in the magnetic tape information includes information on the conveyance speed of the magnetic tape 12, information on the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12, and information on the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12. The information related to the nature of the magnetic tape 12 in the magnetic tape information includes information related to the thickness of the magnetic tape 12 and information related to the material of the magnetic tape 12.

The tape drive 10 is provided with various sensors. The various sensors detect the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12. That is, the speed sensor 83 detects the transport speed of the magnetic tape 12 from the rotational speeds of the feed-out motor 25 and the take-up motor 26. The speed sensor 83 outputs speed information indicating the speed of the magnetic tape 12 to the control unit 31. The tension sensor 84 detects tension generated in the magnetic tape 12 from the torques generated in the feed-out motor 25 and the winding motor 26. The tension sensor 84 outputs tension information indicating the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12 to the control unit 31. The displacement sensor 85 detects the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12. The displacement sensor 85 outputs amplitude information indicating the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 to the control unit 31. The speed sensor 83, the tension sensor 84, and the displacement sensor 85 are examples of "sensors" according to the technology of the present invention.

The 1 st vibration source control unit 81 controls the operation of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A based on the detection results of the speed sensor 83, the tension sensor 84, and the displacement sensor 85. The 2 nd vibration source control unit 82 controls the operation of the ultrasonic vibration source 33B based on the detection results of the speed sensor 83, the tension sensor 84, and the displacement sensor 85. For example, when the conveying speed of the magnetic tape 12 detected by the speed sensor 83 increases, the 1 st vibration source control section 81 and the 2 nd vibration source control section 82 operate the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B to increase the vibration frequency.

When the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12 detected by the tension sensor 84 increases, the 1 st vibration source control unit 81 and the 2 nd vibration source control unit 82 operate the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B so as to increase the vibration frequency. This is because when the natural frequency of the magnetic tape 12 is increased by increasing the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B are operated at the vibration frequency equal to or higher than the changed natural frequency. By the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrating at the vibration frequency equal to or higher than the natural vibration frequency, the magnetic tape 12 cannot follow the vibration of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B. Thereby, the influence on the magnetic tape 12 caused by the vibration accompanying the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B is suppressed.

When the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 detected by the displacement sensor 85 increases, the 1 st vibration source control unit 81 and the 2 nd vibration source control unit 82 operate the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B so as to increase the vibration frequency. As described above, when the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 increases, the frequency of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B increases, so that the magnetic tape 12 can be set to a frequency range in which the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B cannot follow the vibration.

The tape cartridge 11 is provided with a cartridge memory 11A. The control section 31 acquires information on the nature of the magnetic tape 12 from the cartridge memory 11A. The cartridge 11A stores therein information related to the properties of the magnetic tape 12 (e.g., the thickness and material of the magnetic tape 12). The control section 31 acquires information on the nature of the magnetic tape 12 from the cartridge memory 11A, for example, through the contactless read/write device 11B. Under the control of the control unit 31, the contactless read/write device 11B transmits and receives information to and from the cartridge memory 11A via a magnetic field.

The control section 31 operates the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B based on information on the properties of the magnetic tape 12 acquired by the contactless read-write device 11B. For example, the control unit 31 calculates the vibration frequency equal to or higher than the natural vibration frequency of the magnetic tape 12 from the thickness and the material of the magnetic tape 12. The control unit 31 operates the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B at a vibration frequency equal to or higher than the natural vibration frequency of the magnetic tape 12.

Further, the information related to the magnetic tape 12 may include information such as the year, month, and day of manufacture, manufacturing unique number, manufacturer, or number of uses of the magnetic tape 12.

The function of the above structure is described below with reference to the flowchart of fig. 9. As an example, as shown in fig. 9, first, in step ST100, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B are subjected to ultrasonic vibration under the control of the 1 ST vibration source control unit 81 and the 2 nd vibration source control unit 82. Thereby, a squeeze film is generated as the air film AM between the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12 and the supporting member 30.

In the next step ST110, the feed motor 25 and the winding motor 26 are operated under the control of the travel control section 60, and the magnetic tape 12 travels in the feed direction FWD or the rewind direction BWD. Thus, the magnetic tape 12 travels in a state where the air film AM is formed between the magnetic tape 12 and the supporting member 30.

Then, in step ST120, the magnetic element of the feeding magnetic head 28 or the rewinding magnetic head 29 magnetically acts on the magnetic layer 16 of the magnetic tape 12. Specifically, the servo pattern 50 is read by the servo pattern reading element SR. Under the control of the 1 st recording control unit 64 or the 2 nd recording control unit 70, data is recorded on the data track DT by the data recording element DW. Further, under the control of the 1 st read control section 65 or the 2 nd read control section 71, data is read from the data track DT by the data reading element DR.

The 1 st position detecting unit 61 or the 2 nd position detecting unit 67 detects the position of the sending-out magnetic head 28 in the width direction WD or the position of the rewinding magnetic head 29 in the width direction WD based on the interval of the servo signal based on the servo pattern 50. The 1 st servo control unit 62 or the 2 nd servo control unit 68 compares the detection result of the position of the 1 st position detection unit 61 or the 2 nd position detection unit 67 with a target position, and performs servo control for setting the position of the sending-out magnetic head 28 or the rewinding magnetic head 29 to the target position.

As described above, in the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the air film AM is formed between the magnetic tape 12 and the support member 30. Therefore, according to the present structure, friction generated between the magnetic tape 12 and the support member 30 can be suppressed as compared with a case where the support member 30 provided on the opposite side of the magnetic head from the magnetic tape 12 is directly pressed against the magnetic tape 12.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B ultrasonically vibrate the support member 30 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12 and orthogonal to the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12. Thereby, an air film AM is formed between the magnetic tape 12 and the support member 30. Therefore, according to the present configuration, friction generated between the magnetic tape 12 and the support member 30 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the air film AM is formed by a method other than ultrasonic vibration.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the air film AM is a squeeze film. Therefore, according to the present structure, compared with the case where an air film AM having a thicker than pressed film is formed between the magnetic tape 12 and the support member 30, the variation in the gap (i.e., the interval) between the magnetic tape 12 and the support member 30 can be suppressed.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate at a vibration frequency equal to or higher than the natural vibration frequency. Therefore, according to the present configuration, compared to the case where the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate at a vibration frequency smaller than the natural vibration frequency of the magnetic tape 12, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate the support member 30 at a vibration frequency in which the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 is within a predetermined range. Therefore, according to the present configuration, compared to the case where the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate at a vibration frequency outside the predetermined range of the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the 1 st vibration source control unit 81 and the 2 nd vibration source control unit 82 control the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B, respectively, based on the tape information. Therefore, according to the present configuration, the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B vibrate according to the tape information, and therefore, compared with a case where the tape information is not considered, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the tape 12 can be suppressed.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the tape information includes information on the conveyance state of the tape 12 and information on the properties of the tape 12. Therefore, according to the present configuration, compared with a case where the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12 and the property of the magnetic tape 12 are not considered as the tape information, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the information on the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12 includes information on the conveyance speed of the magnetic tape 12, information on the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12, and information on the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12. Therefore, according to the present configuration, compared with a case where the conveyance speed of the magnetic tape 12, the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12, and the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 are not taken into consideration as the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the information on the properties of the magnetic tape 12 includes information on the thickness of the magnetic tape 12 and information on the material of the magnetic tape 12. Therefore, according to the present structure, compared with a case where the thickness of the magnetic tape 12 and the material of the magnetic tape 12 are not considered as the properties of the magnetic tape 12, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed.

The tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1 is provided with a sensor for detecting the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12, and controls the operations of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B based on the detection result of the sensor. Therefore, according to the present configuration, compared with a case where constant ultrasonic vibration is always performed regardless of the result of detecting the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed.

In the tape drive 10 according to embodiment 1, the head is displaced in a direction approaching the tape 12 by the suspension 35 and the suspension 36. Therefore, according to this configuration, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the position of the magnetic head is always constant.

In embodiment 1, the information related to the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12 has been described as an example of the form including the information related to the conveyance speed of the magnetic tape 12, the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12, and the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as the information on the conveyance state of the magnetic tape 12, any 1 or 2 of the information on the conveyance speed of the magnetic tape 12, the information on the tension generated in the magnetic tape 12, and the information on the amplitude of the magnetic tape 12 may be used.

In embodiment 1, the information about the properties of the magnetic tape 12 has been described as an example of the form including the information about the thickness of the magnetic tape 12 and the material of the magnetic tape 12, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as the information on the property of the magnetic tape 12, any one of information on the thickness of the magnetic tape 12 and information on the material of the magnetic tape 12 may be used.

In embodiment 1, the description has been given of the embodiment in which the operations of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B are controlled based on the detection results of the speed sensor 83, the tension sensor 84, and the displacement sensor 85, but the technique of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operations of the ultrasonic vibration source 33A and the ultrasonic vibration source 33B may be controlled based on the detection results of any 1 or 2 of the speed sensor 83, the tension sensor 84, and the displacement sensor 85.

[ embodiment 2 ]

In embodiment 1, the position of the magnetic head is adjusted by the suspension 35 and the suspension 36, but the technique of the present invention is not limited to this. In embodiment 2, a description will be given of a configuration example in which the position of the magnetic head is adjusted by a position adjustment actuator in addition to the suspension 35 and the suspension 36. The tape drive 10A according to embodiment 2 is provided with a position adjustment actuator for adjusting the position of the magnetic head. Note that, in embodiment 2, a description of a structure common to embodiment 1 is omitted.

As an example, as shown in fig. 10, in the tape drive 10A, the suspension 35 includes a load beam 55, a piezoelectric bimorph element 56, and a flexure 57. The load beam 55 is a thin flat plate made of metal and having relatively high rigidity. The base end of the load beam 55 is mounted on a substrate, not shown. The load beam 55 is connected to an actuator (e.g., voice coil motor) of the moving mechanism 40 through a base plate. The load beam 55 is formed to be slightly shorter than the length of the flexure 57. A piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is fixed to the front end of the load beam 55.

The piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is composed of a flat piezoelectric body 56A and a piezoelectric body 56B. The flat piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B are bonded to each other in a state of being laminated in the plate thickness direction. Piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B are elongated by applying a voltage, and the other is contracted. The piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is an element that moves an object by bending by expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B. The piezoelectric bodies 56A and 56B are, for example, lead zirconate titanate (PZT; pb (Zr, ti) O) ₃ ). The piezoelectric body 56B side of the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is attached to the flexure 57. The piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is an example of a "position adjustment actuator" according to the present technology.

The flexure 57 is a thin flat plate made of metal having relatively low rigidity. Therefore, the flexure 57 functions as a leaf spring. The feeding head 28 is attached to a surface of the flexure 57 opposite to the surface to which the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is attached.

As an example, as shown in fig. 11, the length l_p and the width w_p of the piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B are each several mm. The thickness t_p of the piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B is several tens of μm.

As an example, as shown in the upper part of fig. 12, the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 bends the distal end of the flexure 57 by the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B, and moves the feeding magnetic head 28, thereby adjusting the position of the magnetic element ME in the normal direction ND. That is, the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 adjusts the position of the feeding head 28 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12 and orthogonal to the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12.

The piezoelectric bimorph element 56 operates to maintain a constant interval under the control of the control section 31. Specifically, when the position of the magnetic tape 12 is shifted from the normal position shown in the middle of fig. 12 toward the feeding magnetic head 28, the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is bent away from the magnetic tape 12 as shown in the upper part of fig. 12. On the other hand, when the position of the magnetic tape 12 is shifted from the normal position shown in the middle of fig. 12 in the direction opposite to the direction of the magnetic head 28 for feeding, the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 is bent in the direction approaching the magnetic tape 12 as shown in the lower part of fig. 12.

The bending amount Δl of the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 in one direction is represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), d is a piezoelectric strain constant, and V is an applied voltage.

[ number 1]

Here, consider a case where, for example, the length l_p and the width w_p of the piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56 b=1 mm, and the thickness t_p=50 μm. When the piezoelectric strain constant d of the piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B is 200×10, for example ^-12 m/V, and a voltage of, for example, 20V is applied to the piezoelectric body 56A and the piezoelectric body 56B, the bending amount Δl is 1.2 μm according to formula (1).

The delivery head 28 has a plurality of magnetic elements ME on a surface facing the magnetic layer 16. The plurality of magnetic elements ME magnetically acts on the magnetic layer 16. The magnetic head 28 brings the magnetic element ME close to the magnetic layer 16 at intervals of several nanometers, thereby magnetically acting the magnetic element ME on the magnetic layer 16.

In embodiment 2, the case where the position of the feeding head 28 is adjusted by the piezoelectric bimorph element 56 has been described, but the position of the rewinding head 29 is adjusted by the piezoelectric bimorph element in the same manner.

As an example, as shown in fig. 13, a feeding support member 30A is disposed at a position facing the feeding head 28 with the magnetic tape 12 interposed therebetween. The ultrasonic vibration source 33A is connected to the delivery support member 30A. The ultrasonic vibration source 33A vibrates the feed-out support member 30A in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12 and orthogonal to the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12 (i.e., the normal direction ND). Thereby, an air film AM is formed between the magnetic tape 12 and the feeding support member 30A.

As described above, in the tape drive 10A according to embodiment 2, the position of the magnetic head is adjusted by the piezoelectric bimorph element 56. Therefore, according to this configuration, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the position of the magnetic head is always constant.

That is, by adjusting the position of the head by the piezoelectric bimorph element 56, the preload applied to the magnetic tape 12 becomes small. As a result, the variation in the gap between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape 12 can be further suppressed as compared with the case where the position of the magnetic head is always constant.

[ embodiment 3 ]

In the above embodiments 1 and 2, the example where the magnetic layer 16 is provided on the surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12 was described, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. In the magnetic tape drive 10B according to embodiment 3, even when the magnetic layer 16 is formed not only on the front surface 18 but also on the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12, the magnetic tape 12 can be read and written. Note that, in embodiment 3, a description of a structure common to embodiments 1 and 2 is omitted.

As an example, as shown in fig. 14, a magnetic layer 16 is formed on a surface 18 of a magnetic tape 12 in a magnetic tape drive 10B. A magnetic layer 16 is formed on the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12. That is, the magnetic tape 12 has magnetic layers 16 on both sides.

The 1 st feeding head 28A is disposed on the surface 18 side of the magnetic tape 12 to access the magnetic layer 16 formed on the surface 18. The 2 nd feeding head 28B is disposed on the back surface 19 side of the magnetic tape 12 to access the magnetic layer 16 formed on the back surface 19. When the magnetic tape 12 travels in the feed-out direction FWD, the 1 st feed-out magnetic head 28A and the 2 nd feed-out magnetic head 28B operate. The 2 nd magnetic head 28B is an example of the "2 nd magnetic head" according to the technology of the present invention.

A feed-out support member 30C is disposed at a position facing the 1 st feed-out magnetic head 28A with the tape 12 interposed therebetween. A feeding support member 30D is disposed at a position facing the 2 nd feeding magnetic head 28B with the magnetic tape 12 interposed therebetween.

The tape drive 10B includes an air film forming device 33. The air film forming device 33 forms an air film AM between the feeding support member 30C and the magnetic tape 12 and between the feeding support member 30D and the magnetic tape 12. As an example, the air film forming apparatus 33 includes an ultrasonic vibration source 33C and an ultrasonic vibration source 33D.

The ultrasonic vibration source 33C is connected to the delivery support member 30C. The ultrasonic vibration source 33D is connected to the delivery support member 30D. The ultrasonic vibration source 33C is fixed to the tape drive 10B by a fixing member 34C. The ultrasonic vibration source 33D is fixed to the tape drive 10B by a fixing member 34D.

The ultrasonic vibration source 33C ultrasonically vibrates the feed-out support member 30C in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12 and orthogonal to the width direction WD of the magnetic tape 12 (i.e., the normal direction ND). Thereby, an air film AM is formed between the feeding support member 30C and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12. The ultrasonic vibration source 33D ultrasonically vibrates the feed-out support member 30D in the normal direction ND of the magnetic tape 12. Thereby, an air film AM is formed between the feeding support member 30D and the surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12.

The 2 nd magnetic head 28B is disposed at a position different from the 1 st magnetic head 28A in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12, and the feed support member 30D is disposed at a position different from the feed support member 30C in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12. That is, the 2 nd magnetic head 28B is disposed on the side of the 1 st magnetic head 28A in the rewinding direction BWD in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12, and the support member 30D is disposed on the side of the support member 30C in the rewinding direction BWD in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 12.

As described above, in the tape drive 10B according to embodiment 3, the air film AM is formed between the feeding support member 30C and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12. An air film AM is formed between the feed-out support member 30D and the surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12. Since the magnetic tape 12 is supported by the air film AM, even if the magnetic layer 16 is formed on both the front surface 18 and the back surface 19, the influence of friction or the like on the magnetic layer 16 at the time of conveyance can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the present structure, even in the case where the magnetic layer 16 is formed on both the front surface 18 and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12, a magnetic tape drive capable of reading and writing to the magnetic tape 12 can be realized.

Modification example

In embodiment 3, the example of the configuration in which the 1 st and 2 nd magnetic heads 28A and 28B simultaneously act on the magnetic layer 16 of the magnetic tape 12 has been described, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. As an example, as shown in fig. 15, in the tape drive 10C according to the present modification, the state in which the 1 st magnetic head 28A acts on the magnetic layer 16 on the front surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12 and the state in which the 2 nd magnetic head 28B acts on the magnetic layer 16 on the rear surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12 can be switched.

The base ends of the suspensions 35 and 36 are movably mounted to the frame of the tape drive 10, for example, by arms. In the tape drive 10C, when the 2 nd feeding head 28B is not operated, the 2 nd feeding head 28B is moved to a standby position separated from the magnetic tape 12 by the 2 nd moving mechanism 41. In this case, the ultrasonic vibration source 33D does not perform ultrasonic vibration, and as a result, the air film AM is not formed between the feeding support member 30D and the magnetic tape 12. On the other hand, the 1 st feeding head 28A is displaced in a direction approaching the surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12. An air film AM is formed between the feed-out support member 30C and the magnetic tape 12. That is, the state 1, i.e., the state in which the magnetic element ME of the 1 st feeding magnetic head 28A acts on the magnetic layer 16 of the surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12 is realized.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 16, for example, when the 1 st feeding head 28A is not in operation, the 1 st feeding head 28A is moved to a standby position separated from the magnetic tape 12 by the 1 st moving mechanism 40. In this case, the ultrasonic vibration source 33C does not perform ultrasonic vibration, and as a result, the air film AM is not formed between the feeding support member 30C and the magnetic tape 12. On the other hand, the 2 nd feeding head 28B is displaced in a direction approaching the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12. An air film AM is formed between the feed-out support member 30D and the magnetic tape 12. That is, the state 2, that is, the state in which the magnetic element ME of the 2 nd magnetic head 28B acts on the magnetic layer 16 on the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12 is realized. The magnetic element ME of the 2 nd magnetic head 28B is an example of the "2 nd magnetic element" according to the technique of the present invention.

In this way, in the magnetic tape drive 10C, the state in which the magnetic element ME of the 1 st magnetic head 28A acts on the magnetic layer 16 on the front surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12 and the state in which the magnetic element ME of the 2 nd magnetic head 28B acts on the magnetic layer 16 on the rear surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12 can be switched.

As described above, in the tape drive 10C according to the present modification, the air film AM is formed between the feeding support member 30C and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12. An air film AM is formed between the feed-out support member 30D and the surface 18 of the magnetic tape 12. Since the magnetic tape 12 is supported by the air film AM, even if the magnetic layer 16 is formed on both the front surface 18 and the back surface 19, the influence of friction or the like on the magnetic layer 16 at the time of conveyance can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the present structure, even in the case where the magnetic layer 16 is formed on both the front surface 18 and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12, a magnetic tape drive capable of reading and writing to the magnetic tape 12 can be realized.

In the tape drive 10C according to the present modification, the state 1 and the state 2 can be switched. Therefore, according to the present configuration, even when the magnetic layers are formed on both surfaces of the magnetic tape 12, it is possible to read and write data on only one of the front surface 18 and the rear surface 19.

In addition, in the embodiment 3 and the modification described above, the example was described in which the 1 st magnetic head 28A and the 2 nd magnetic head 28B act on the front surface 18 and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12, respectively, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the same configuration can be adopted for the magnetic head for rewinding (not shown). That is, 2 rewinding heads may be provided which act on the magnetic layers 16 on the front surface 18 and the back surface 19 of the magnetic tape 12, respectively. Further, a rewinding support member (not shown) may be disposed at a position facing the rewinding head through the magnetic tape 12, and an air film may be formed between the rewinding support member and the magnetic tape 12.

In the above embodiments, the explanation was given of the embodiment in which the ultrasonic vibration source was provided as the air film forming apparatus 33, but the technique of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the air film forming device 33, the air film AM may be formed between the support member 30 and the magnetic tape 12 by injecting air between the support member 30 and the magnetic tape 12. As an example, a plurality of ejection openings are provided in a portion of the support member 30 facing the magnetic tape 12. The plurality of ejection openings are provided at positions of the support member 30 facing the magnetic tape 12 in a dispersed manner. Air is ejected toward the magnetic tape 12 through the plurality of ejection openings, thereby forming an air film AM between the support member 30 and the magnetic tape 12.

In the above embodiments, the example of the configuration in which the magnetic heads are provided at the tips of the leaf spring type suspensions 35 and 36 has been described, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. As an example, as shown in fig. 17, the magnetic tape 12 may also be read from and written to by the read head 90 and the recording head 92. The read head 90 includes a magnetic element unit 90A and a carriage 90B. The magnetic element unit 90A is held by the holder 90B in close proximity to or in contact with the traveling magnetic tape 12. The magnetic element unit 90A reads data from the magnetic tape 12 or reads the servo pattern 50 (see FIG. 3) from the magnetic tape 12.

Recording head 92 includes a magnetic element unit 92A and a carriage 92B. The magnetic element unit 92A is held by the holder 92B in close proximity to or in contact with the traveling magnetic tape 12. The magnetic element unit 92A records data on the magnetic tape 12 or reads the servo pattern 50 (refer to fig. 3) from the magnetic tape 12.

The support member 30 is provided at a position facing the read head 90 and the recording head 92 with the tape 12 interposed therebetween. An air film AM is formed between the support member 30 and the magnetic tape 12 by the air film forming device 33.

The number of servo bands SB, the number of data bands DB, the number of data elements DRW, the number of data tracks DT for which 1 data element DRW is responsible, and the like described in the above embodiments are merely examples, and are not particularly limited to the technique of the present invention.

For example, a tape 12 in which 5 servo bands SB and 4 data bands DB are alternately arranged in the width direction WD may be used. In this case, 2 sending-out heads and 2 rewinding heads are provided, respectively. The width of each head is approximately 1/4 of the width of the tape 12. The magnetic heads are arranged so as not to interfere with each other in the feed direction FWD and the rewind direction BWD. Support members are disposed at positions facing the respective magnetic heads via the magnetic tape 12. An air film is formed between the support member and the magnetic tape 12 by an air film forming device.

Alternatively, a tape in which 9 servo bands SB and 8 data bands DB are alternately arranged in the width direction WD may be used. In this case, 4 sending-out heads and 4 rewinding heads are provided, respectively. The width of the feed-out magnetic head and the rewind magnetic head is about 1/8 of the width of the magnetic tape. Support members are disposed at positions facing the respective magnetic heads via the magnetic tape 12. An air film is formed between the support member and the magnetic tape 12 by an air film forming device.

Alternatively, a magnetic tape in which 13 servo bands SB and 12 data bands DB are alternately arranged in the width direction WD may be used. In this case, 6 sending-out magnetic heads and 6 rewinding magnetic heads are provided, respectively. The width of the feed-out magnetic head and the rewind magnetic head is about 1/12 of the tape width. Support members are disposed at positions facing the respective magnetic heads via the magnetic tape 12. An air film is formed between the support member and the magnetic tape 12 by an air film forming device.

In the above embodiments, the example of the configuration in which the sending-out magnetic head and the rewinding magnetic head are provided independently has been described, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, 1 magnetic head may be shared for feeding and rewinding, not being divided into a feeding magnetic head and a rewinding magnetic head. Also, the servo pattern read elements SR arranged in 1 head may be 1. Similarly, 1 data element DRW may be disposed in 1 head.

The number of data elements DRW arranged in 1 head may be 16, 32, or 64, for example. The number of data tracks DT for which 1 data element DRW is responsible for recording and/or reading data is not limited to 12 data tracks. There may be 1, for example, 4, 16, 32 or 64.

In the above embodiments, the tape drive 10 having the tape cartridge 11 mounted thereon has been described, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the magnetic tape 12 held in a state of not being accommodated in the magnetic tape cartridge 11 may be a magnetic tape device wound on a take-out reel, that is, may be a magnetic tape device in which the magnetic tape 12 is not placed interchangeably.

In the above embodiments, the magnetic tape 12 has been described as an example of the form of the magnetic layer 16 containing the exemplified ferromagnetic powder, but the technique of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a magnetic tape in which a ferromagnetic thin film is formed by vacuum deposition such as sputtering may be used.

In the above embodiments, the computer may include a programmable logic device (Programmable Logic Device: PLD) and/or a dedicated circuit, etc., instead of or in addition to the CPU that operates as the control unit 31, the programmable logic device being a processor that can change the circuit configuration after the manufacture of an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array: field programmable gate array) or the like; the dedicated circuit is a processor having a circuit configuration specifically designed for executing a specific process such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit: application specific integrated circuit).

The technique of the present invention may be appropriately combined with the above-described various embodiments and/or various modifications. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit.

The description and the illustrations shown above are detailed descriptions of the portions related to the technology of the present invention, and are merely examples of the technology of the present invention. For example, the description of the above-described structure, function, operation, and effect is an explanation of an example of the structure, function, operation, and effect of the portion related to the technology of the present invention. Accordingly, it is needless to say that the description and the illustration shown above may be deleted, and new elements may be added or replaced without departing from the gist of the present invention. In order to avoid complexity, the description and drawings shown above are omitted so as not to require any particular explanation of the technical common sense, etc., in order to facilitate understanding of the technology of the present invention.

In the present specification, "a and/or B" is synonymous with "at least one of a and B". That is, "a and/or B" means that a alone, B alone, or a combination of a and B may be used. In the present specification, the same concept as "a and/or B" applies when 3 or more cases are expressed in "and/or" connection ".

All documents, patent applications and technical standards described in this specification are incorporated by reference into this specification to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Symbol description

10-magnetic tape drive, 11-magnetic tape cartridge, 11A-cartridge, 11B-contactless read-write device, 12-magnetic tape, 13-cartridge reel, 15-base film, 16-magnetic layer, 17-back coat, 18-surface, 19-back, 20-processor, 21-memory, 22-control program, 23-computer, 24-bus, 25-send-out motor, 26-take-up motor, 27-take-up reel, 28-send-out head (1 st head), 28A-1 st send-out head (1 st head), 28B-2 nd send-out head (2 nd head), 29-rewind head (1 st head), 30-support member, 30A, 30C, 30D-send-out support member, 30B-backing member for rewinding, 31-control section, 32-guide roller, 33-air film forming device, 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D-ultrasonic vibration source, 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D-fixing member, 35, 36-suspension, 40-1 st moving mechanism, 41-2 nd moving mechanism, 50-servo pattern, 51A, 51B-magnetization region, 55-load beam, 56-piezoelectric bimorph element, 56A, 56B-piezoelectric body, 57-flexure, 60-travel control section, 61-1 st position detection section, 62-1 st servo control section, 63-1 st data acquisition section, 64-1 st recording control section, 65-1 st reading control section, 66-1 st data output section, 67-2 nd position detecting section, 68-2 nd servo control section, 69-2 nd data acquiring section, 70-2 nd recording control section, 71-2 nd read control section, 72-2 nd data outputting section, 81-1 st vibration source control section, 82-2 nd vibration source control section, 83-speed sensor, 84-tension sensor, 85-displacement sensor, 90-read head, 90A, 92A-magnetic element unit, 90B, 92B-bracket, 92-recording head, AM-air film, BWD-rewind direction, DB-data tape, DR-data reading element, DRW-data element, DT-data track, DTG-divided data track group, DW-data recording element, FWD-send direction, ME-magnetic element, SB-servo tape, SR-servo pattern reading element, WD-tape width direction, w_g-support member width, w_h-send head and width of magnetic head for rewind w_t-width.

Claims (15)

1. A tape drive, comprising:

a 1 st magnetic head having a 1 st magnetic element acting on a magnetic layer formed on a 1 st surface of the magnetic tape;

a 1 st support member which is disposed at a position facing the 1 st head with the tape interposed therebetween and which faces a 2 nd surface which is a surface opposite to the 1 st surface of the tape; and

and an air film forming device for forming an air film between the magnetic tape and the 1 st support member.

2. The tape drive of claim 1 wherein,

the air film forming apparatus is a 1 st ultrasonic vibration source that forms the air film between the magnetic tape and the 1 st support member by ultrasonically vibrating the 1 st support member in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape and orthogonal to a width direction of the magnetic tape.

3. The tape drive of claim 2 wherein,

the air film is an extruded film.

4. The tape drive of claim 2 wherein,

the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source vibrates the 1 st support member at a vibration frequency that generates a squeeze film between the magnetic tape and the 1 st support member,

The vibration frequency is a vibration frequency greater than a natural vibration frequency of the magnetic tape.

5. The tape drive of any of claims 2-4, wherein,

the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source vibrates the 1 st support member at a vibration frequency in which an amplitude of the magnetic tape is within a predetermined range.

6. The tape drive of any of claims 2-4, wherein,

the tape drive is further provided with a processor,

the processor controls the operation of the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source based on tape information, which is information related to the tape.

7. The tape drive of claim 6 wherein,

the tape information includes information related to a conveyance state of the tape and/or information related to a property of the tape.

8. The tape drive of claim 7 wherein,

the information related to the conveyance state of the magnetic tape includes information related to the conveyance speed of the magnetic tape, information related to tension generated on the magnetic tape, and/or information related to the amplitude of the magnetic tape.

9. The tape drive of claim 7 wherein,

the information related to the nature of the magnetic tape includes information related to the thickness of the magnetic tape and/or information related to the material of the magnetic tape.

10. The tape drive of claim 7 wherein,

the tape drive further comprises a sensor for detecting a transport state of the magnetic tape,

and the processor controls the action of the 1 st ultrasonic vibration source according to the detection result of the sensor.

11. The tape drive of any of claims 1-4, wherein,

also provided with a leaf spring type suspension for supporting the 1 st magnetic head,

the 1 st magnetic head is arranged at the front end part of the suspension,

the suspension displaces the 1 st head in a direction approaching the magnetic tape.

12. The tape drive of any of claims 1-4, wherein,

the magnetic tape drive device further comprises a position adjustment actuator for adjusting the position of the 1 st magnetic head in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape and orthogonal to the width direction of the magnetic tape.

13. The tape drive of any of claims 1-4, wherein,

the tape also forms a magnetic layer on the 2 nd side,

the tape drive further comprises:

a 2 nd magnetic head having a 2 nd magnetic element acting on the magnetic layer formed on the 2 nd surface;

a 2 nd support member disposed at a position facing the 2 nd head with the tape therebetween and facing the 1 st surface; and

An air film forming device for forming an air film between the magnetic tape and the 2 nd support member,

the tape drive switches between a 1 st state in which the 1 st magnetic element acts on the 1 st side magnetic layer and a 2 nd state in which the 2 nd magnetic element acts on the 2 nd side magnetic layer.

14. The tape drive of any of claims 1-4, wherein,

the tape also forms a magnetic layer on the 2 nd side,

the tape drive further comprises:

a 2 nd magnetic head having a 2 nd magnetic element acting on the magnetic layer formed on the 2 nd surface;

a 2 nd support member disposed at a position facing the 2 nd head with the tape therebetween and facing the 1 st surface; and

an air film forming device for forming an air film between the magnetic tape and the 2 nd support member,

the 2 nd magnetic head and the 2 nd support member are disposed at positions different from the 1 st magnetic head and the 1 st support member, respectively, in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape.

15. A method of operating a tape drive, comprising the steps of:

forming an air film between a support member disposed at a position facing a magnetic head with a tape therebetween and the tape;

Advancing the magnetic tape in a state where the air film is formed; and

the magnetic head is caused to act on a magnetic layer of the magnetic tape.

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